Permutation lock



May 18 {1926. I c. F. BLADES PERMUTATION LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- Filed Oct. 30, 1923 .MIIIHHHHHH IN V EN TOR WITNESSES A TTORNE YS May 18 1926. 1,584,834

- c. F. BLADES PERMUTATION LOCK Filed Oct. 30, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' A TTORNE YS Fatented hiay i8, 192?.

S YFATES PATENT @F... EQE.

CHARLES FOSTER BLADES, O13 TOPEKA, KANSAS.

Application filed. October 30, 1923. Serial No. 671,721.

This invention relates to permutation locks and has for its object the provision of a device for looking a safe and which is simple in construction and easy of manipulation when the combination by which the lock is operated is known.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device which does not require the use of a key or tumblers and which is absolutely noiseless in operation so that it would be impossible for an unauthorized person to obtain the combination by sounds within the loci: when experimenting with the visible operating elements.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following de tailed description, in view of the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be under stood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the operating mechanism for locking the bolt.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the same.

Figure 3 is a side view of the same.

Figure l is an end view of the operating mechanism.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of one of the rotatable members and the braking means for said rotatable member.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the lock bolt and cooperating mechanism for permitting and causing shifting of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates the usual lock bolt which is adapted to be locked against reciprocation by a pivoted latch 52,

The permutation lock per se comprises a pair of upper and lower base plates 3 and a which are secured together and spaced from each other by posts 5. A. shaft 6 is mounted centrally of the base plates and has its opposite ends in bearings in said plates. A gear 7 is rigidly connected with the shaft 6 and is in mesh with a spur gear 8.

The gear 8 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 9. Said shaft has one end mounted in a bearing in the plate 3 and its opposite end projects beyond the base plate t and is mounted for rotation in a bearing in the base plate i. A resilient spider 10 connected with the shaft 9 on the inner face of the base plate d has the ends of its legs in engagement with the inner wall of said plate. A. hub 11 is rigidly connected with the projecting end of the shaft 9 and is provided with thee arms 12, 13 and 1d.

The arm 14 is provided with an operating handle 15 for rotating the shaft 9. A pin 16 is rigidly connected with the outer wall of the base plate a and with which the operating handle 15 is adapted to; be alined at certain times. The pin is spaced beyond the operating circumference of said handle.

Loosely mounted on shaft 6 and spaced from each others are three discs 17, 18 and 19, i hcse discs are made of fiber or some non-metallic material and have a friction tight engagement with the metal discs 24) whereby the fiberdiscs may be angularly displaced relative to the metal discs for changing the combination of the lock.

Resilient webs 21 engage the washers mounted respectively on the three discs, while the outer free ends of the legs of the webs are in engagement with the outer surface of the non-metallic discs.

A collar 23 spaces the metal disc attached t0 the disc 17 from gear 7, while a resilient web 2d in engagement with a washer 22, spaces the non-metallic disc 19 from the inner wall of the base plate l.

A post 25 has its opposite ends rigidly connected with the base plates 3 and t and is located adjacent the peripheries of the non-metallic discs and is provided with spaced bearings adapted to receive the coiled portions 26 of the resilient arms 27', and 29. The inner ends of these resilient arms are provided with brake shoes 80 adapted to engage at certain times the outer peripheries of the adjacent non-metallic discs 17, 18 and 19.

Rigidly connected on a shaft 31 are spaced cam members 32, 33 and 8% adapted to be engaged by the free ends 35 of the respective resilient members 27, :28 and 29.

Cam member 32 is provided with an arcuate face in which is formed a groove The opposite faces 37 and 38 are straight and are at ri ht angles to each other. Cam member 33 is provided with two parallel straight faces 39 and 40 and two curved end faces having grooves 11 and 4:2. Cam member 34 is similar to cam 32 and is provided with an arcuately shaped periphery in ill;

l'orn' ed a groove 13. The other two faces 4 15 are stra J11" and are at right f11 "S to each other,

'ihc sh,

)late l5. l8, -29 and located on the cirvertical and iorizontal dianieters of the circle and which are at right angles to each other. These notches are respectively numlicrcdl, 2, and 1. The cranl; arm 416 is provided on its under face with 'a projeo tion 51 adapted to engage the notches 4C7, 48,.4-9'and 50 when the crank arm is operated.

The disc 17 is provided with a notch 52 adapted to alinc with a notch '53 in disc 18 and a notch 54% in disc 19 whereby the lugs on the latch 2 will fall within said alined notches so that its free one 56 may he thrown out of engagement with the lug 5?. At this time the lock bolt 1 may be operated for re leasing it from keeper to open the door.

An operating handle 61 rigidly connected with a shaft 62 rocks said shaft, oscillating a link 63 mounted on said shaft and pivotally connected at Getto the latch bar 2 adjacent its inner end 56. A lever 65 rigidly connected to shaft 62 is provided with a pin 66 operating in a groove (not shown) in holt 1 so that rocking of shaft 62 not only raises latch 2 but causes a sliding movement of bolt- 1. a

A post 58 is mounted upon the base plate 1 and has its inner end located adjacent the periphery of the metal discs 20. Each one of the discs 20 is provided with a lug 59 which is adapted to engage the post and prevent rotation 01 the metallic and non-metallic discs in one direction. As shown in Fig ure 1 the notches 52, 53 and 54 are adapted to be alined at the point marked 60 on the plate 4i.

The operation of my device is as follows:

As long as the lugs on latch 2 are in engagement with the peripheries of the nonmetallic discs 17, 18 and 19, the outer end 56 of said latch will he maintained in engagement with the lug 57 on bolt 1 and thereby prevent operation of said bolt. l/Vhen the three discs are so alined that their respective notches 52, 53 and 54: are alined at the point in Figure 1, the lugs on latch 2 will drop into the alined notches and release the end 56 from the lug 5? on bolt 1' when handle 61 is operated. In order to aline the notches it is necessary to rotate the crank arm 46 until the lug 51 on said arm drops within the notch marked :ltl on base plate l of Figure 1. At this time the tint faces oi? the cam members, as shown in Figures 2 ant 5, will he so positioned that they will engage the ends 35 of the respective resilient members 27, 28 and 29. At this time the brake shoes 30 of the resilient'arms will he thrown out of engagement with the peripheries oi the discs 17, 18 and 19 and permit all three discs to be rotated at one time. The crank arm 14; through'the handle 15 rotated in an anti-clockwise direction for live or sir turns whereby the lugs 59 on the metal 20 will he moved into engagement with the post 58. The crank arm i l-is continued in this rotation until it alines with pin 16. Crank arm 4 6is then moved until the lug on said arm engages notch 17. The cam members and 1-1 are so arranged that the active portion of the cam which is provided with grooves will engage the ends 35 the resilient arms 28 and 29 and :torce the shoes 3O 01 saidarms into engagement with the discs 18 19 and prevent rotation of said discs. The crank a m 1 1 is then r0- tatcd in a clockwise direction until the arm makes a complete revolution and passes pin 16 and arm 13 is alined with said pin. The arms 12, 13 and 1-1 form angles of 120 with each other so that the angular revolution or arm 1-1 would be SO Each 120 1 term a space so that the arm l-l would be rotated through four spaces.

Lever 16 is then moved to notch #2 and arm 14 is turned anti-clockwise until it alin es with pin 16. The arm 14 is again operated through an angular displacement of 840 or '4' spaces. Crank arm 16 is then moved to notch 3 and arm 1 1 is again rotated anticlockwise to aline with pin 16. This arm is then rotated clockwise through 1320 or through eleven spaces.

By the three separate operations of angular movement of the arm 1% thethree notches 52, 53 and 54- are' alined at the point marked 0 in Figure 1 whence the lugs 55 on the arm 2 may remove into these notches and release, the end of said arm from lug 57 on locl: bolt 1 as the lock bolt is shifted for opening the door of the safe by actuation of handle lit the lirst o} )eration of arm h) to notch 1-? together with the angular displacement of the arm 1 1 through four spaces, notch 52 was brought to point 60 in Figure l. The movement of arm 46 causes one of the flat sides oi cam to aline with arm 27 and release the shoe of said arm from disc 17 whereby the disc was rotated through the gears 7 and 8 and shaft 9. The groove portions of cam 33 and EA engaging the respective arms 28 and 29 forces their respective shoes into engagement with the discs 18 and 19. and maintains them stationary against rctation. At the second operation when arm was alined with notch 18 the rotation of the arm 1 1 throu hi seven spaces permits rotation of .disc 18 and the alinement of notch 53 with notch 52 at point 60 in Figure 1. The groove portions of the cams 32 and 3- engaging the respective arms 27 and 29 forces their shoes into engagement with their respective discs 17 and i9 and main tains them stationary while the arm 28 is in engagement with the flat portion of cam 33 and releases shoes 30 from disc 18. When arm d6 is moved to aline with notch the flat side of cam 3 is engaged by the resilient arm 29 to release the shoe 30 from disc 19 and thereby permit rotation of said disc while the grooved cam portion of cams and 33 force the shoes 30 againstthe respective discs 17 and 18 and prevent rotation of these discs. By operation of the arm 1 L through eleven spaces the notch 54: is caused to aline with notches 52 and 58 at point 60 in Figure 1. In order to lock the device when the lug is seated ithin the alined notches 52, 53 54-, the arm 14 is rotated anti-clockwise after the lugs 55 on the catch 2 are forced from their respective notches in the non-metallic di es and the end 56 of latch 2 is in position to prevent movement of the lock bolt 1 by its engagement with the lug 5'7. As has been noted actuation of handle 61 not only moves bolt 1 into its keeper but raises latch 2 through link 63.

When the arm $6 is moved to the notch t l, which is designated by the numeral 50, and the arm l l is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, the three discs 17, 18 and 19 are rotated simultaneously.

It will be noted that the combination for unlocking my permutation lock with reference to the three kinds of angular displacement of the arm at in cooperation with the movement of the crank arm 46 is 4 to 7 to 1.1. Any other combinations may be formed by the angular displacement of the metal discs 20 to the respective non-metallic discs 17, 18 and 19.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a permutation look, a plurality of notched rotatable discs, means for causing rotation of said discs, and a resilient braking means for selectively preventing rotation of the discs, said braking means including a rotatable shaft, cams rigidly connected with the shaft, resilient arms in engagement with said cams, a spindle upon which the arms are pivotally mounted, said arms being provided with shoes adapted to be forced into engagement with the rotatable discs.

2. in a permutation loch, a plurality of notched rotatable members, means for-rotating the members for alining the notches of said members, means for selectively locking said members againstrotation, said selective means comprising cam members having flat faces and an arcuately shaped face, means engaging the cams, and braking means adapted to be selectively forced in braking relation with one or more of the discs upon the rotation of the cams, a stop located adjacent the discs, and means projecting from the discs adapted to engage the stop for limiting rotation of the discs in one direction.

3. in a permutation lock, a plurality of notched rotatable discs, means for causing rotation of said discs, and a resilient braking means for selectively preventing rotation of the discs, said braking means includ ing a rotatable shaft, cams rigidly connected with the shaft, resilient arms in engagement with said cams, a spindle upon which the arms are pivotally mounted, said arms being provided with shoes adapted to be forced into engagement with the rotatable discs, and means included in the rotatable means for angularly determining the rotation of the discs for alining the notches in said discs.

4-. In a permutation look, a plurality of notched rotatable discs, means for causing rotation of said discs, and a resilient brale ing means for selectively preventing rota-- tion of the discs, said braking means including a rotatable shaft, cams rigidly connected with the shaft, resilient arms in engagement with said cams, a spindle upon which the arms are pivotally mounted, said arms being provided with shoes adapted to be forced into engagement with the rotatable discs, means included in the rotatable means for 'angularly determining the rotation of the discs for alining the notches in said discs, and a stop associated with the last mentioned means for predetermining the angular rotation of said means.

In a permutation look, a plurality of non-metallic discs mounted for rotation, a braking means for selectively preventing rotation of said discs, means for causing angular rotation of the discs in accordance with the selective restraint by the braking means, means for causing selective operation of the braking means in accordance with the angudisplacement of the discs by the rotatable means, said selective means ccmpris ing a plurality of cams on a shaft, each having flat faces and a curved face adapted to engage the braking means so that when the selective means is operated certain of the braking means will be placed in operative relation with the discs.

CHARLES FOSTER BLADES. 

